Wednesday Morning Quickie.

We're A Little Pressed For Time This Morning ...... so let's dive right in, shall we?

You're Kidding, Right?Disgraced Luzerne County Judge Mark A. Ciavarealla Jr.,has asked the state pension system for a
one-time, lump-sum payment of $234,000, in a move apparently designed to protect the money from possible forfeiture after he's setenced for accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks in connection with juvenile detention contracts.According to the Citizens-Voice of Wilkes-Barre, the kids-for-cash judge will be eligible for a monthly payment of about $5,150 at least until his sentencing, which might not come for months. State retirees who are convicted of certain crimes can have their retirements revoked. But lump sum payments made at the time of retirement cannot be recovered, a pension system spokesman told the newspaper.The $234,000 payment represents the sum total, plus interest, that Ciavarella, 59, earned while on the bench.Ciavarealla's one-time withdrawal reduced the amount of his monthly payment, which could have been as high as $6,800 or $81,600 a year.

The rest of today's news starts after the jump.

After Seven Months On The Job ...... acting DEP Secretary John Hanger will finally get a confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Environmental Resources Committee today. The Inky has the breakdown on the saga that led us to this day.

State Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler ...... says the jury is still out whether the state will finish the 2008-09 budget year with a deficit bigger than the long-projected $2.3 billion shortfall, our friends at Capitolwire report this morning.“We will know better by mid-April,” Stetler said after a Senate Finance Committee hearing yesterday. “And once we know, we may have to revise that number. As of now, I am not 100 percent sure,” if the shortfall estimate will be increased.Stetler’s comments came as the committee unanimously voted to recommend the state Senate confirm him as secretary of revenue. The state Senate later in the day voted unanimously to confirm Stetler’s nomination, Capitolwire reported.In Case You Were Wondering ...... Reps. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, and Brian Ellis, R-Butler, are the House appointees to Gov. Ed'sGrand High Commissariat on Spending The Stim. The body, which was created by executive order, had its first meeting yesterday. We understand its work was so important and overwhelming that SenateMinority Leader Bob Mellow, D-Lackawanna, had to leave early.

Local Service Dept.State Rep. Joe Brennan, D-Northampton, has opened a new constituent service office in Catasauqua, Lehigh County. In addition to providing badly needed services, this announcement will also finally force us to learn how to pronounce "Catasauqua."

State Sen. John Eichelberger ...... of Blair County dropped a proposed amendment to the state Constitution yesterday that would require a secret ballot for workers to unionize.The Bedford Republican was joined at this event by the world's most famous unemployed plumber and all-purpose GOP prop Samuel Wurzelbacher -- who, you'd think, would be a big fan of unions, being a plumber and all.Oh ... wait ... he's not really a plumber. And this amendment probably won't really pass. So never mind.

Identity Crisis Dept.In the space of about two weeks, two PA bloggers, each from opposite ends of the political spectrum, have alternately described us as "righteously liberal" and "neo-con[servative]."All we can say is, "You like us! You really like us!" What Goes On.It's another full day.At 9 a.m., Rep. Ron Waters, D-Philadelphia, and members of the PA Legislative Black Caucus gather in the East Wing Media Center to talk about regional meetings they'll be holding on The Stim.At 10 a.m., in the Main Rotunda, you can join in the 25th anniversary celebration of the state System of Higher Education. Also at 10 a.m., this time in the Media Center, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, will roll out his alternative budget, and if you're guessing that includes no taxes, fee increases or spending of any kind, you're probably right.At 11:30 a.m., Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, heads to the Media Center to weigh in on that hideous judicial corruption in her home county. About time someone popped off on this.And at 1 p.m., at the Capitol Fountain, seniors and others will gather to call for the creation of a "Consumer Workforce Council." We're not sure what this is, but it sounds important.EdWatch (TM):Gov. Ed will conduct a "statewide civics class" today at 11 a.m. on expanding access to higher education in a Web cast originating from Intermediate Unit 15 in Summerdale, Cumberland County. If you've never been on the receiving end of one of Rendell's hectoring rants, you're in for a real treat. Sorry, this isn't an April Fool's joke.

Oh, And One Other Thing ...... DAVE LA TORRE..There, we mentioned you.

On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning.If you were an indie kid in the late 1980s and early 1990s, then you probably dug English popsters The Sundays. And if you were male, you probably also had a crush on the band's lead singer Harriet Wheeler. Here's one of their better tunes, the irresistible "Summertime."

Wednesday's Gratuitous Soccer Link.English football legend Alan Shearer has taken the reins at Newcastle United as the increasingly troubled Magpies fight to stave off relegation from the Premier League. The former team captain becomes the club's fourth manager this season, The Guardian reports this morning. Newcastle are in 18th place, third from bottom, on an anemic 29 points and a truly pathetic goal difference.

That's it for now. Check back later today for more news and updates. Remember, we're now on Facebook -- just search on "Capitol Ideas" and become our friend. You can also register for state news alerts on our Twitter page.

Current Comments

I want to echo Tara's comment: Thanks for posting The Sundays, John. Great, underrated band. You made my day.

Posted By: Bill | Apr 1, 2009 10:45:03 AM

ooh...someone didn't have their happy pill this AM.....

Posted By: Tara | Apr 1, 2009 9:53:08 AM

John,

Normally, your jokes have a grain of truth in them. But your Joe the Plumber jokes only reveal a complete ignorance that union bosses.

First, when you say Joe the Plumber "who, you'd think, would be a big fan of unions, being a plumber and all." Why is that? Only 30% of pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamlayers are union members - nearly 2/3rd choose not to join or form a union. (http://www.unionstats.com/)

Finally "Oh ... wait ... he's not really a plumber." Come on, John. Do you really think the definition of a plumber is someone who got a plumber's license from government? Do you have your reporter's license? Your blogger's license? How can I know your work is high quality, unless government approves your qualifications?

Newcastle are such a mess right now- I wonder how their fans will feel about Shearer if they go down and he can't bring them straight back up next season. Of course if he gets them into safety and avoids the drop he'll be an even bigger god than he is now.

Posted By: Bill in Harrisburg | Apr 1, 2009 9:16:52 AM

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